Cosmetic Dentistry Information Packet Dr. Ivan Valcarenghi “Your smile is your most valuable asset. It is what people remember about you, what attracts them to you, and what allows you to communicate your pleasure and your joy. If you feel in any way self-conscious of your smile, worried about the shape of your teeth, their whiteness, or you feel your smile has been in any way dimmed, my cosmetic dentistry practice is here to help. From veneers to whitening to Invisalign, I can help restore the brilliance and glow of your smile. Included here is the information you’ll need to better understand what cosmetic dentistry is, what it can do, and who it can help. I look forward to talking about what my practice can do to help you make your smile the smile you’ve always wanted.” -

© 2010 Dr. Ivan Valcarenghi

Dr. Ivan Valcarenghi DDS

All Rights Reserved

Page 1 of 5

What is cosmetic dentistry? Cosmetic dentistry is based on the premise that your smile is an important part of how you present yourself to the world, something you want to be proud of and comfortable with. For different reasons, many people are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth, their smile, and their mouth. Age and experience take a toll on the sparkle and whiteness of our teeth, and the misadventures of youth or the complications of growing teeth can leave us with a crooked or misaligned smile we wish we could fix. Cosmetic dentistry helps you do that. Using subtle and largely non-invasive procedures, cosmetic dentistry helps your teeth fit together better, be more even, whiter, and more beautiful. Procedures include veneers, or, as my office make available, Lumineers™, teeth whitening or bleaching, and Invisalign to help rearrange the fit and harmony of your teeth. Procedures are discreet and designed to fit seamlessly into your everyday life, allowing you to attract only the kind of positive attention a beautiful smile inevitably gets. Invisalign straightens your teeth invisibly; Lumineers fit over your natural teeth, and whitening and bleaching respect the native color of your tooth’s surface.

Veneers or Lumineers? Chipped, stained, and crooked teeth make excellent candidates for veneers or Lumineers, both of which reshape and brighten the tooth by covering it with an artificial surface. Veneers come in composite, which is less expensive, and porcelain, which costs somewhat more. After a consultation with your dentist about the possibility of and expected results for veneers, you’ll come back for a minimum of two appointments, the first of which will be to shape and model the existing teeth, and the second (or several) of which will be to fit the new veneers over your old teeth and bond them. When you’re finished, you’ll have bright, even, healthy looking teeth. Lumineers are less invasive; they fit like contact lenses over your teeth. Thin porcelain shells, they don’t require the drilling or shaping that veneers can require, and because they do not alter the natural shape of the tooth, they are reversible. © 2010 Dr. Ivan Valcarenghi

All Rights Reserved

Page 2 of 5

What is Invisalign? Remember braces? Chunky metal things fitted to your teeth and seemingly designed to attract everything from parsley to merciless teasing? Invisalign is the grown-up version of braces, designed to be completely unnoticeable and to have nothing to do with parsley. Invisalign is a removable, clear alignment structure that you change every two weeks as your teeth start to straighten themselves. You can choose not to wear it on certain occasions, and you are constantly replacing it so it stays clean and fresh. And at the end of your treatment, you’ll have a straight, confident smile.

What about teeth whitening? Teeth whitening is the simples and quickest of all cosmetic dentistry procedures. It falls into two categories: teeth whitening, which does not involve bleach but merely cleans the surface debris off of the teeth leaving it shinier and whiter. And teeth bleaching, which uses a mild bleaching agent—my office uses Sapphire™ teeth whitening, which is painless—to whiten the teeth by up to seven shades, restoring them to their youthful whiteness and brilliance. Both procedures can be done in the office or at home. Teeth bleaching inoffice takes about an hour per session; if you take it home you’ll get a custom tray and some bleaching agent and you can apply when you have time or whenever you like. In a couple of weeks you’ll see the results; your smile will have brightened considerably, and will sparkle with light!

Do all of these things work? Results will vary with different people and different teeth, but we’ll work with you and your specific needs to make sure you get the results you want. Part of the process includes a consultation with me in which I’ll evaluate the condition of your teeth and listen to you describe what you’d like and what you envision for results. Then we can talk about which procedures might best help you achieve what you desire.

© 2010 Dr. Ivan Valcarenghi

We will also follow up with you; you are welcome to ask me, or my staff, any questions and to come back in for a follow up consultation should you All Rights Reserved Page 3 of 5

have concerns or things you’d like to discuss. Our patients are quite happy with their results, and we will work very hard to make sure feel the same way.

How expensive is cosmetic dentistry? We tend to associate movie stars with both perfect smiles and big paychecks; there does not need, however, to be a necessary association between the beauty of your smile and the cost of your treatment. Yes, some cosmetic dentistry requires a level of financial commitment, but you are, after all, committing to your smile. Certain procedures are more expensive than others: porcelain veneers, for example, are costlier than composite, and both are more expensive than Lumineers. In-office bleaching costs more than at-home whitening, but the results come more quickly and in a more controlled environment with office procedures. As part of your consultation with me you’ll have a chance to ask me questions about pricing and together we can determine a procedure and a payment plan that work for you. While dental insurance may not cover cosmetic dentistry, we have other payment strategies available.

Why do so many patients choose Dr. Valcarenghi when they need a cosmetic dentist? Experience and Expertise With years of experience and over 4000 hours of continuing education and training, our team can give you a more youthful, attractive smile. Dr. Ivan has so much expertise he trains other dentists on the latest techniques and technology in cosmetic dentistry—with this team you can smile with confidence!

© 2010 Dr. Ivan Valcarenghi

All Rights Reserved

Page 4 of 5

Dazzling Results Beautiful smiles are healthy and natural-looking. We will customize your cosmetic dentistry so that it complements your coloring, face shape, and personality. We’ll artistically craft a smile that’s uniquely, personally yours. Patient-focused and Flexible Our dental team understands that every patient is different. We’ll offer you multiple dental solutions and treatment timelines to fit your particular needs. We also provide financing options so that your dream smile can become a reality.

How do I get started? To get started, first call my office at (630) 834-8088 or go to www.drivansmiles.com to schedule an appointment for a free consultation. I’m looking forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve the smile of your dreams!

© 2010 Dr. Ivan Valcarenghi

All Rights Reserved

Page 5 of 5